A phenomenal machine – Sharp on track and friendly on the road

[DaLveN @CSBD]

Triumph are masters of the sporty naked (they’ve sold over 90,000 since the Street Triple’s 2007 inception) and it keeps on getting better with age.The new RS isn’t a quantum leap forward over the old model, but the extra grunt serves to make it more flexible and thrilling on the road, like the current R version we all know and love.Too much ABS intervention on the track is its only flaw, but that aside it’s a phenomenal machine – beautifully built, refined, well equipped and as sharp at the racetrack limit as it is friendly on the road.

With the exception of the latest generation 'Version 3' Pirelli Diablo Super Corsa SP rubber, the chassis is left unchanged.

That’s no bad thing because you still get Brembo monoblocs and a span/ratio adjustable front brake lever, an Öhlins rear and Showa forks, all bolted to one of the finest, best-balanced chassis set-ups you’ll find anywhere.

Front end feel, grip and confidence is up there with the best sportsbikes money can buy and it’s only on track where you can begin to push its limits, but you need to have the kahunas of a racer to get anywhere near them.

All five rider modes (Road, Rain Sport, Track and Rider) have been tweaked to suit the motor’s new character and you still get anti-wheelie (boo!) and (non-lean sensitive) traction control.

 

The colour TFT dash is updated with kaleidoscopic, second generation graphics, Bluetooth connectivity, GoPro interaction and turn-by-turn sat nav. For normal riding the RS’s electronic aids wait in the wings, just in case, but selecting 'Track' or the customisable 'Rider' mode lets you wheelie and reduces TC intervention (you can also turn it off).But even on the raciest of its two settings, the ABS is too intrusive on track, preventing very hard braking.

Peak power remains at 121bhp, but Triumph has bolstered midrange oomph with a new exhaust cam, a lighter crank, clutch and balancer. It breathes through new intakes and a twin-cat exhaust featuring a header balance pipe and free-flowing carbon-tipped stubby end can.All this adds up to 9% more peak torque, 9% extra power at mid revs and a 7% reduction in inertia. To ride it’s similar to before, but it sounds slightly angrier and still pulls like a mono-wheeling maniac out of slow corners and makes mincemeat of straights. It’s still beautifully fuelled and friendly at low speed with perfect fuelling.

Our online owners reviews have nothing but good things to say about the way the Street Triple RS goes and is finished, but some have experienced minor reliability and durability issues.Despite its upgrades Triumph have kept the price the same as the previous RS and are offering some stonking PCP deals, which when you look at its equipment, performance and level of finish, represents superb value for money.

You get lots of top-level equipment for your money, including fully adjustable Showa Big Piston Forks and Öhlins shock, Brembo M50 Monobloc calipers, 'V3' Pirelli Super Corsa SPs, a slip and assist clutch, span/ratio-adjustable front brake lever, a multi-function colour TFT dash, traction and wheelie control, up/down quickshifter, five rider modes, self-cancelling indicators, LED lights and a carbon fibre end can tip.